The Panel (Irish TV series)

The Panel
Format Chat show, comedy
Created by Happy Endings Productions
Starring Craig Doyle
Colin Murphy
Ed Byrne
Dara Ó Briain
Neil Delamere
Andrew Maxwell
Mairead Farrell
Country of origin Ireland
No. of episodes 84, as of 23 January 2008
Production
Running time 45 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel RTÉ Two (2003-2008)
RTÉ One (2008-2011)
Original run 15 September 2003 (2003-09-15) – 2011 (2011)
External links
Website

The Panel was a weekly topical comedy-style chat show produced by Happy Endings Productions for Radio Telefís Éireann. It is based on the Australian programme The Panel, produced by Working Dog Productions for Network Ten. The 2010-2011 season began on 7 October 2010, with a new permanent presenter, Craig Doyle, and ran each Thursday at 22:15 on RTÉ One until 26 January 2011. The theme song is "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses.

Contents

Format

The show has a host Craig Doyle who chairs the discussion, along with four panellists who change from week to week. Regular panellists include Colin Murphy, Andrew Maxwell, Neil Delamere, Mairead Farrell and Eleanor Tiernan. They discuss current events, interspersed with interviews with special guests. Panelists are typically professional comedians, and as such the show aims for pure comedy, rather than any hybrid of discussion or analysis and topical jokes. The producers and regular performers are clear that the show is distinguished from other panel shows by the absence of games, rounds, scores or other contrivances.

History

The show has run from September 2003 to the present day. Until 2006 it was hosted by Dara Ó Briain,[1] who had come to popular attention in Ireland through his regular appearances in Don't Feed the Gondolas, another topical comedy show in the same Monday night slot on RTÉ Two. The show is recorded in different locations around Dublin, including the O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, the Helix Theatre, DCU and the Draíocht Theatre, Blanchardstown. It is one of RTÉ's most popular shows, and its sudden apparent cancellation in December 2005 annoyed many fans but it returned with a largely unchanged format in October 2006.

The 2007 general election saw a special run of shows previewing the election, presented by Colin Murphy. The show was performed live to full houses in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin from 11-13 September 2007 as part of the Bulmers Comedy Festival. These shows, following the format of the television show but a longer running time and stronger language, were chaired by Colin Murphy and were not recorded for television. When the show returned for the 2007-2008 season there was no longer a single regular host, but was presented by Neil Delamere, or Colin Murphy. Ó Briain returned to present one episode during this series, which marks the last time, as of 2010, that he has appeared on the show, having moved to work in the United Kingdom. The company he co-founded, Happy Endings Productions, continues to produce the show, and he retains an advisory relationship with the show.

Until early 2008 the programme aired on RTÉ Two, usually on a Monday night. In September 2008, it was announced that The Panel was to move to RTÉ One, the broadcaster's flagship television channel. A fourteen episode run was to begin airing on the channel on 30 October 2008 at 22.15 with a new presenter.[2] Several prominent Irish broadcasters were screen-tested, but a combination of unfortunate factors meant that the seventh series returned with rotating guest hosts, rather than any one person in a permanent position. Shortly before the airdate, RTÉ changed its schedules and the series began on 6 November at 22.15 with its original timescale of 45 minutes. Ray D'Arcy was the guest presenter for the week and was followed by a string of others including Gráinne Seoige, Dáithí Ó Sé, Marty Whelan, Charlie Bird, Phill Jupitus and Pauline McLynn. Its producer, Seamus Cassidy, told The Irish Times that ""a reasonably big name, a very big name actually" would take over as permanent anchor in January 2009.[3] On 23 November 2008, the Sunday Tribune reported that comedian Ardal O'Hanlon was set to be announced as the new permanent host.[4] Former host Ó Briain has indicated that he was aware of the presenter in question, and is quoted as saying on a breakfast radio show that "HE is very funny" but refusing to discuss the matter any further.[5] However, in early 2009 it emerged there would be a further delay in obtaining a permanent host for "at least another couple of weeks", with Craig Doyle presenting the first show of the new year.[6] In the event, the guest host format continued for the entire 2008-2009 series. Following a short run with David McWilliams at the helm in 2009, the show was thought to have been de-commissioned. However, in August 2010, at the launch of RTÉ's Autumn schedule, it was announced that Craig Doyle would be the presenter for a new run of fourteen shows.[7]

A DVD entitled The Panel - The Best of... was released in 2008.[8]

Panellists

The panellists as they stood in the most recent season are listed below.

Regular

1. Once performed the dual role of panellist and presenter interchangeably throughout the season.

2. Since Ó Briain ceased to be a regular, Murphy is the panellist who has appeared in the most episodes.

3. The show's former regular presenter, he has only appeared on one show of the 2007-2008 season, although he hosted the episode on which he appeared.

Occasional

The following made between one and a small number of appearances on the show in previous seasons.

* Gráinne Seoige hosted the second episode of the 2008-2009 season, becoming the first female presenter of the show.

Recent episodes

RTÉ Two

2006-07

Date Host Panelists Guests Links
16 October 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Delamare, Murphy, Nolan Gordon D'Arcy, Jack L
23 October 2006 O'Briain Delamare, Maxwell, Murphy, Nolan Eanna Ní Lamhna, Albert Jack [10]
30 October 2006 O'Briain Delamare, Maxwell, Murphy, Ní Shúilleabháin John Simpson
6 November 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Murphy, Nolan, Spain Christopher Brookmyre, Derval O'Rourke [11]
13 November 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Farrell, Maxwell, Murphy Tom Dunne, Stephen Grey [12]
20 November 2006 Murphy Ed Byrne, Farrell, Delamare, Maxwell Allen Pease, Bill O'Herlily [13]
27 November 2006 O'Briain Delamare, Bowman, Byrne, Murphy Howard Marks, Jason Byrne [14]
4 December 2006 O'Briain Delamare, Farrell, Murphy, Maxwell, Ed Byrne Jilly Goolden, Adrian Dooley [15]
11 December 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Delamare, Murphy, Ní Shúilleabháin Heston Blumenthal, Richard Dawkins [16]
18 December 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Maxwell, McLynn, Murphy Simon Delaney, Martin King [17]
27 December 2006 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Delamare, Farrell, Murphy Eanna Ní Lamhna, Mary O'Conor [18]
8 January 2007 Murphy J.Byrne, Delamare, Farrell, Spain Bernard Dunne, Manchán Magan [19]
15 January 2007 Murphy Delamare, Farrell, Maxwell, Spain, O'Briain Ian Robertson, Ruth Bradley [20]
22 January 2007 Murphy Delamare, Ní Shúilleabháin, Maxwell, Ed Byrne David Norris, Ray D'Arcy [21]
29 January 2007 O'Briain Ed Byrne, Farrell, Maxwell, Murphy Danny Baker, Ben Goldacre [22]

The People Decide

The panellists discuss the outcome of the 2007 Irish general election.

Date Host Panellists Guests Link
2 May 2007 Murphy Delamere, Spain, Bishop, Loughrey Grant Philippe Legrain, David Coffey
9 May 2007 Murphy Spain, Ní Shúilleabháin, Delamere, Maxwell Damian Corless, Dr. Mark Hamilton [23]
10 May 2007 [24]
16 May 2007 Murphy Spain, Ní Shúilleabháin, Delamere, Maxwell John Waters, Ivan Yates [25]
23 May 2007 Murphy Delamere, Ní Shúilleabháin, Spain, Maxwell Kevin Dundon, Alex Barclay [26]
30 May 2007 Murphy J. Bishop, Farrell, Delamere, Maxwell Senator David Norris, Iain Dale [27]

2007-08

Neil Delamere hosted The Panel for the very first time on 8 October 2007.

Date Host Panellists Guests Link
1 October 2007 Murphy J. Bishop, Farrell, Delamere, Byrne Ben Pridmore, James Cromwell [28]
8 October 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, Maxwell Justine Delaney-Wilson, Chris Terrill [29]
15 October 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, J. Bishop Charley Boorman, Lisa O'Doherty [30]
22 October 2007 O'Briain Murphy, Byrne, Maxwell, Ní Shúilleabháin Sebastian Horley, Bryan Dobson [31]
29 October 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Maxwell, Byrne Steve Parsons, John Duddy [32]
5 November 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, J. Bishop Paul Costello, Dominic Streatfeild [33]
12 November 2007 Murphy Maxwell, Farrell, Whelan, Byrne Michael Stebbins, Katie Taylor [34]
19 November 2007 Murphy Maxwell, Ní Shúilleabháin, Delamere, Byrne Alison Jackson, Colin Bateman [35]
3 December 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Bishop, Byrne Trevor Baylis, Paddy Breathnach [36]
10 December 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, Maxwell Joe Simpson, Tony Fenton [37]
17 December 2007 Murphy Maxwell, Farrell, Whelan, Delamere Feargus O'Sullivan, René Caroyel [38]
27 December 2007 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, Byrne Richard Corrigan, Dr. Mark Hamilton [39]
7 January 2008 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, Byrne John Cooper Clarke, Gerry Robinson [40]
14 January 2008 Delamere Murphy, Farrell, Whelan, Maxwell Suzi Quatro, Eileen O'Keefe [41]
21 January 2008 Murphy Maxwell, Farrell, Delamere, J. Bishop Colm Meaney, Kevin Myers [42]
28 January 2008 Murphy Whelan, Farrell, Delamere, Maxwell Rita Carter, James Caan [43]

RTÉ One

In 2008 it was announced that The Panel would be transported to RTÉ One. The first episode of the show was criticised for being too serious, which the panellists blamed on their new setting.

2008–9 season

Jarlath Regan, Ian Coppinger, Carol Tobin, Alan Shortt and Evelyn O'Rourke made their debuts on the show as panellists in the 2008-09 season. Karl Spain also made a return in the fifth episode. Upon Ivan Yates's appearance in the sixth episode it was claimed that he was now the record holder of guest appearances on The Panel and the political bookmaker went on to guest-host an episode of the show in 2009. For the first three episodes of 2009 no female was present on The Panel for the first time ever with the matter being rectified in the fourth episode of the year with the addition of Evelyn O'Rourke.

Date Host Panellists Guests Link
6 November 2008 Ray D'Arcy Murphy, Delamere, J. Regan, Ní Shúilleabháin Kevin Myers and Duke Special [44]
13 November 2008 Gráinne Seoige Murphy, Farrell, Delamere, Maxwell Fionan Sheehan and Gerry Anderson [45]
20 November 2008 Marty Whelan Delamere, Farrell, J. Regan, Maxwell John Drennan and Gerard Keane [46]
27 November 2008 Charlie Bird Murphy, Delamere, Ní Shúilleabháin, Coppinger Philip Boucher-Hayes and Kenny Egan [47]
4 December 2008 Dáithí Ó Sé Maxwell, Ní Shúilleabháin, Spain, Delamere Monica Loughman and Niall Stanage [48]
11 December 2008 Phill Jupitus Murphy, Farrell, Delamere, Maxwell Derek Acorah, Ivan Yates [49]
18 December 2008 Diarmuid Gavin Murphy, Tobin, Whelan, Delamere Keith Barry, Marty Morrissey [50]

The Panel Unwrapped

Date Host Panellists Guests Link
30 December 2008 Pauline McLynn Murphy, Ní Shúilleabháin, Delamere, Maxwell David Van Day, Derry Clarke [51]
Date Host Panellists Guests Link
8 January 2009 Craig Doyle Murphy, Delamere, A. Shortt, Maxwell Karl Henry and Shane O'Donoghue [52]
15 January 2009 Tom McGurk Murphy, A. Shortt, Whelan, Delamere Mikey Graham [53]
22 January 2009 George Hamilton Murphy, Delamere, A. Shortt, Maxwell Antony Worrall Thompson [54]
29 January 2009 Ivan Yates Murphy, Delamere, O'Rourke, Maxwell Mark Hamilton [55]
5 February 2009 Baz Ashmawy Delamere, A. Shortt, Gildea, Maxwell Terry Christian [56]
12 February 2009 Will Leahy Murphy, Delamere, Farrell, Maxwell Patrick Bergin, Niall O'Farrell

2009–10 season

The first episode attracted an average audience share of 23 per cent.[57] New presenter David McWilliams apologised to broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan for sexist comments he had written in his new book.[57]

2010-11 Season

The Panel returned on 7 October 2010 with a new host,Craig Doyle.[58] The regulars Maxwell, Delamere, Muprhy and Farrell return with Eleanor Tiernan, Bernard O'Shea, Dermot Whelan,Gearóid Farrelly,John Colleary, Kevin Bridges, Stephen K. Amos and Jack Whitehall to be appearing throughout the series. This series included the show's 100th episode.

Cancellation

On June 4th 2011, Andrew Maxwell, one of the regular panelists said on Twitter that the show had been cancelled.[59] The following day, RTÉ posted a headline confirming that the show had been cancelled.[60]

References

  1. ^ "Two faces you won't be seeing in the Late Late Show hotseat". Evening Herald. 7 April 2009. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/two-faces-you-wont-be-seeing-in-the-late-late-show-hotseat-1701048.html. Retrieved 9 April 2009. 
  2. ^ "SYNOPSIS". RTÉ. http://tvsales.rte.ie/autumn/content/entertainment/the-panel.html. Retrieved 26 October 2008. 
  3. ^ "A prime time for comics to get edgy". The Irish Times. 2008-2008-11-11. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2008/1111/1225925646721.html. Retrieved 6 December 2008. 
  4. ^ "The Diary, Ken Sweeney - Holy God, Dougal becomes full-time host of 'The Panel'". Sunday Tribune. 23 November 2008. http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/nov/23/the-diary-ken-sweeney-holy-god-dougal-becomes-full. Retrieved 6 December 2008. 
  5. ^ The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show. Today FM. 1 December 2008.
  6. ^ "Craig to host RTÉ's the panel as search continues for a full-time presenter". Evening Herald. 8 January 2009. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/craig-to-host-rtes-the-panel-as-search-continues-for-a-fulltime-presenter-1595621.html. Retrieved 9 January 2009. 
  7. ^ http://www.rte.ie/tv/newseason/index.html
  8. ^ "The Panel, The Best Of - DVD". RTÉ Shop. Accessed 1 November 2008.
  9. ^ "TV star Mairead is blown away by the €200 'botox for hair' treatment that leaves locks silky for 12 weeks". Evening Herald. 13 August 2009. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/tv-star-mairead-is-blown-away-by-the-euro200-botox-for-hair-treatment-that-leaves-locks-silky-for-12-weeks-1858900.html. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 
  10. ^ "23 October 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  11. ^ "6 November 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 6 November 2008.
  12. ^ "13 November 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  13. ^ "20 November 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  14. ^ "27 November 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  15. ^ "4 December 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  16. ^ "11 December 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  17. ^ "18 December 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  18. ^ "27 December 2006". RTÉ. Accessed 27 December 2008.
  19. ^ "8 January 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  20. ^ "15 January 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  21. ^ "22 January 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  22. ^ "29 January 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  23. ^ "Wednesday, 9 May 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  24. ^ "Thursday, 10 May 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  25. ^ "Wednesday, 16 May 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  26. ^ "Wednesday, 23 May 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  27. ^ "Wednesday, 30 May 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  28. ^ "Monday, 1 October 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  29. ^ "Monday, 8 October 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  30. ^ "Monday, 15 October 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  31. ^ "Monday, 22 October 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  32. ^ "Monday, 29 October 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  33. ^ "Monday, 5 November 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  34. ^ "Monday, 12 November 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  35. ^ "Monday, 19 November 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  36. ^ "Monday, 3 December 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  37. ^ "Monday, 10 December 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  38. ^ "Monday, 17 December 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  39. ^ "Thursday, 27 December 2007". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  40. ^ "Monday, 7 January 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  41. ^ "Monday, 14 January 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  42. ^ "Monday, 21 January 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  43. ^ "Monday, 28 January 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  44. ^ "Thursday, 6 November 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 27 October 2008.
  45. ^ "Thursday, 13 November 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 9 November 2008.
  46. ^ "Thursday, 20 November 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 18 November 2008.
  47. ^ "Thursday, 27 November 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 18 November 2008.
  48. ^ "Thursday, 4 December 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 18 November 2008.
  49. ^ "Thursday, 11 December 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 18 November 2008.
  50. ^ "Thursday, 18 December 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 18 November 2008.
  51. ^ "Tuesday, 30 December 2008". RTÉ. Accessed 30 October 2008.
  52. ^ "Thursday, 8 January 2009". RTÉ. Accessed 8 January 2009.
  53. ^ "Thursday, 15 January 2009". RTÉ. Accessed 15 January 2009.
  54. ^ "Thursday, 22 January 2009". RTÉ. Accessed 23 January 2009.
  55. ^ "Thursday, 29 January 2009". RTÉ. Accessed 30 January 2009.
  56. ^ "Thursday, 5 February 2009". RTÉ. Accessed 5 February 2009.
  57. ^ a b Lorna Nolan (10 November 2009). "It's no laughing matter for McWilliams as Panel flops". Evening Herald. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/its-no-laughing-matter-for-mcwilliams-as-panel-flops-1938709.html. Retrieved 10 November 2009. 
  58. ^ http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/doyle-replaces-mcwilliams-on-panel-2289864.html
  59. ^ http://twitter.com/#!/andrewismaxwell/status/77045167718277120
  60. ^ http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0605/thepanel.html

External links

Programmes with a comedy theme made by RTÉ Television
1960s debuts
It's Too Late We're On · Me and My Friend ·
1970s debuts
Hall's Pictorial Weekly · If the Cap Fits · The Maureen Potter Show · Time Now Mr T ·
1980s debuts
1990s debuts
2000s debuts
2010s debuts